Agriculture and FoodDevelopmentEconomicsEducationEmploymentEnergyEnvironmentFinance and InvestmentGovernanceIndustry and ServicesNuclear EnergyScience and TechnologySocial Issues/Migration/HealthTaxationTradeTransportUrban, Rural and Regional Development

Water Governance in the Netherlands

Fit for the Future?

This report assesses the extent to which Dutch water governance is fit for future challenges and sketches an agenda for the reform of water policies in the Netherlands. It builds on a one-year policy dialogue with over 100 Dutch stakeholders, supported by robust analytical work and drawing on international best practice.

Multi-level water governance in the Netherlands

This chapter assesses the performance of Dutch water governance against a set of generic principles and the OECD Multi-Level Governance Framework. It analyses how institutional fragmentation and interdependencies are managed across multiple administrative scales and spatial dimensions. It seeks to understand whether water management goals are clearly defined and reached; how they are connected with related policy areas (spatial planning) and whether they deliver the expected outcomes. The chapter also discusses recent policy responses towards cost-effective water governance and reallocation of roles and responsibilities, and the effectiveness of policy instruments such as the Delta Programme. It concludes by suggesting ways forward to bridge identified governance gaps and foster greater integration across levels of government and policy areas.